Editor's note: He Weiwen is a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, CCG. The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

China and the United States should be partners and friends. This is what history has taught us and what reality needs. Given our different national conditions, we do not always see eye to eye with each other and it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then. In the face of headwinds, waves and challenges, however, we should stay the right course, navigate through the complex landscape, and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-US relations.

Prior to the meeting, China and the US concluded constructive economic and trade talks in Kuala Lumpur on October 25-26. Both sides agreed: first, the US side will drop the 10 percent fentanyl tariff on China, and suspend 24 percent reciprocal tariffs for one year; China will readjust retaliation measures on the US accordingly. Second, the US side will suspend its 50 percent "entity list" export control measure for one year, and China will suspend for one year the export control measures announced on October 9. Third, the US side will suspend its 301 investigation measures on Chinese shipping and maritime industry for one year, and China will suspend the relevant retaliation measures for one year. Fourth, both sides reached consensus on fentanyl ban cooperation, expansion of agricultural products trade and individual enterprise cases.

The fruitful China-US economic and trade talks send a strong signal of cooperation and win-win outcomes to the upcoming 2025 APEC meeting in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, on October 31-November 1, 2025, and sets the tone for both teams to continue their economic and trade dialogue at the APEC meeting.

APEC, or Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, with its 21 members, is the world's largest regional economic cooperation mechanism. Its members combined account for 60 percent of world GDP and 50 percent of world trade. APEC members cover all USMCA members, all CPTPP members excluding UK, and 12 of 15 RCEP members.

The objective of APEC is to promote sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the region and regional economic integration. Its core goals include trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, economic and technology cooperation. The APEC Bogor Meeting in 1994 set the Bogor Goals of “free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialized economies and 2020 for developing economies.” In 2014, the APEC Beijing meeting set a new goal of Free Trade Area in Asia and Pacific (FTAAP). In 2020, the APEC meeting in Malaysia set up the Putrajaya Vision 2040—an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, for the prosperity of all our people and future generations.

The APEC Meeting 2025 comes under a particular headwind of the US unilateral worldwide tariffs and other measures against the multilateral trading system, all of which run counter to the FTAAP and Putrajaya Vision, thus causing serious difficulties in trade and investment liberalization and integration among APEC member economies. Nevertheless, APEC 2025, hosted by Republic of Korea, still set the objective of the summit as 'Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.' Throughout the year, officials have steered practical cooperation across APEC's agenda, including efforts to expand paperless trade and digital cooperation, advancing readiness for a high standard and comprehensive free trade agreement. It fully shows that free trade and cooperation is still the mainstream among APEC economies, not to be altered by any unilateral headwinds.

China and the US are by far the most important players in APEC cooperation and thus hold a crucial stake and responsibility for the APEC Meeting 2025's success. APEC members are also of vital importance to them.

China and the US need to continue their dialogue as equals with mutual respect, seeking mutual benefits in all APEC discussions. The dialogue should be based on a global and Asia-Pacific vision, aiming at significant contribution to the success of the APEC 2025 Meeting agenda. Both China and the US should seek practical ways toward trade and investment liberalization instead of restriction, overall collaboration in digital trade, and advancing towards a high standard free trade agreement. All the dialogue and efforts must be toward supporting instead of weakening the global multilateral trading system.